Kion Smith Bio
Kion Smith is an American professional football guard who has spent time in the National Football League (NFL) with the Atlanta Falcons and the Miami Dolphins. Standing 6 ft 5 in and listed at 300 lb, he plays an interior offensive line position and has developed his craft primarily through practice-squad opportunities before earning limited starting duty. Smith attended Fayetteville State University, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) program, and reached the professional ranks as an undrafted free agent in 2021.
Born on October 7, 1998, in Lumberton, North Carolina, Smith has built a journeyman profile defined by perseverance through injuries and roster turnover. Across his NFL career, he appeared in 23 games with two starts at right guard, all coming with the Miami Dolphins, according to league statistics.
Early Life and Background
Kion Smith was raised in Lumberton, North Carolina, the same community where he would later play his high school football. Lumberton, a small city in Robeson County in southeastern North Carolina, is known regionally for producing athletes across multiple sports, and Smith grew up immersed in that culture. His size and athleticism drew early attention from local coaches who saw his potential along the offensive line.
Smith attended Lumberton High School, where he played high school football and developed into a Division II college prospect. His senior season, however, was cut short when he was sidelined for the entire year due to injury, a setback that disrupted his recruitment but did not end his football ambitions. Despite the missed senior campaign, Smith remained committed to continuing his playing career at the next level.
Following high school, Smith enrolled at Fayetteville State University, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) that competes in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) at the NCAA Division II level. He spent his collegiate years there between 2016 and 2019, building the foundation that would eventually lead to an NFL opportunity.
Path to American Football
Smith’s path to professional American football began on the practice fields of Fayetteville State, where he played in 20 total games during his college career. As an offensive lineman, his development was steady rather than spectacular, with coaches focusing on his footwork, hand placement, and run-blocking technique. His senior season, however, was cancelled entirely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, robbing him of a final showcase year and limiting exposure to NFL scouts.
Coming out of Fayetteville State in 2021, Smith was not among the players selected in the annual NFL draft, making him an undrafted free agent. His size, length, and positional versatility, however, drew interest from teams looking to develop depth along the offensive line. That interest translated into an opportunity when the Atlanta Falcons extended a contract offer shortly after the draft concluded.
Kion Smith Career
Early Career (2021)
Kion Smith’s professional career began on May 4, 2021, when he signed a contract with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent out of Fayetteville State. The Falcons saw him as a developmental guard prospect who could add depth to their offensive line room during organized team activities and training camp. Smith spent the spring and summer working within the team’s system, learning NFL-level schemes and competing for a roster spot.
His time in Atlanta, however, proved brief. On August 31, 2021, Smith was waived by the Falcons as the organization trimmed its roster toward the regular-season limit of 53 players. Despite the early release, his performance in camp was sufficient to attract interest from another franchise, and within days he had a new opportunity lined up.
Miami Dolphins Breakthrough (2021–2026)
On September 6, 2021, Kion Smith joined the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad, beginning a long association with the franchise that would define his NFL career. He spent the bulk of his first Dolphins season developing on the practice squad before signing a reserve/future contract with the team on January 11, 2022. That type of contract allowed Miami to retain his rights beyond the current league year and integrate him into their offseason program.
The 2022 season brought another round of roster movement for Smith. He was waived on August 30 as Miami shaped its initial 53-man roster, only to be re-signed to the practice squad shortly thereafter. He signed another reserve/future contract on January 16, 2023, keeping him in the Dolphins’ long-term plans. During the 2023 regular season, Smith appeared in his first nine games for Miami, recording 70 offensive snaps and showing enough progress to remain in the team’s guard rotation.
Smith’s trajectory faced a serious challenge in 2024 when, on August 10, he was placed on season-ending injured reserve after suffering a torn ACL during the preseason. The injury ended his 2024 campaign before it began and required a lengthy rehabilitation. He returned to action in 2025 and continued to contribute, eventually reaching 14 appearances with two starts at right guard for the Dolphins across his career.
The later stages of Smith’s tenure in Miami included additional roster movement. On November 29, 2025, he was waived by the Dolphins and re-signed to the practice squad the same day. He then signed a reserve/future contract with Miami on January 6, 2026, signaling the team’s continued interest in retaining him. On June 15, 2026, however, Smith was released by the Dolphins, concluding his time with the franchise after multiple seasons of practice-squad and active-roster contributions.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Kion Smith’s career was his first regular-season game appearance with the Miami Dolphins in 2023, when he logged 70 offensive snaps across nine contests. His two career starts at right guard also stand as key milestones, earned through years of patience on the practice squad. The torn ACL suffered in August 2024 tested his resilience, while his return to action and subsequent reserve/future contract in January 2026 reflected both his persistence and the organization’s belief in his long-term potential.
Kion Smith Family
Personal Life
Kion Smith was born and raised in Lumberton, North Carolina, and remains closely tied to the community where he first played football. Public details about his immediate family, including parents, siblings, spouse, or children, have not been widely reported in verified sources, and Smith has largely kept his personal life out of the public eye. His social media presence, including an active Instagram account, offers occasional glimpses into his training and recovery routines.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Kion Smith’s return to game action following the torn ACL he suffered in the 2024 preseason. After re-signing with the Miami Dolphins and being part of the team’s offensive line depth chart, he worked his way back into rotation at guard. Across the season, Smith added to his career totals, ultimately reaching 14 appearances and two starts at right guard for Miami.
Midway through the 2025 campaign, on November 29, Smith was waived and re-signed to the practice squad the same day, illustrating the constant roster churn that defines life as a reserve offensive lineman. Despite the move, he continued to contribute when called upon, reinforcing his value as a versatile interior blocker capable of stepping into both run-game and pass-protection assignments. His experience at right guard gave Miami a reliable depth option during a physically demanding stretch of the schedule.
Looking ahead, Smith signed a reserve/future contract with the Dolphins on January 6, 2026, ensuring he would remain under contract beyond the 2025 league year. That deal reflected the organization’s confidence in his recovery and continued development, though his eventual release on June 15, 2026, opened the next chapter of his professional journey. His 2025 performance ultimately demonstrated that he could return from a major knee injury and still contribute at the NFL level.